With the news that both Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to sit out the first few weeks of the season, there are some punters going cool on Manchester United’s title chances.

Doubters of the Red Devils point to the importance that Ronaldo’s goals played in last season’s title charge – many of which were set up by Rooney.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks to be down to the bare bones of his squad, with only Carlos Tevez, Louis Saha and novice Fraizer Campbell to lead the line.

But the fact remains that United are notorious for their slow starts at the best of times.

Who could have predicted that they would only bank two points from their opening three fixtures last season? Games against Reading, Portsmouth and Manchester City can’t have held too many fears for Untied last term.

Rather than be wary about United’s hopes of retaining their title, punters should view any slow start as an opportunity to back Ferguson’s side at a better price.

A sluggish beginning, coupled with heavy early points hauls for any of United’s chief rivals – Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool – will see United’s odds drift. If that scenario should arise, get stuck into the Premiership Champions as over the course of a season they will have too much strength for their challengers.

Luiz Scolari will take a season to bed in at Chelsea, serious questions have to be asked about William Gallas’s leadership of Arsenal and Liverpool are still not the finished article under Rafael Benitez.

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Stoke City were four Championship points better than Hull last season and with a summer of shrewd recruitment already behind them they look a steal to topple Phil Brown’s men in totesport’s Premiership match-betting.

Potters’ boss Tony Pulis has done some decent business in recent weeks with the signings of proven Premiership scorer Dave Kitson, Danish No1 Thomas Sorensen and Nigerian international Seyi Olofinjana.

All three will improve the Staffordshire side and with concrete rumours that Pulis has bid 8 million GBP for Valencia’s Serbian striker Nikola Zigic it is clear that the club has plenty more money to spend.

Meanwhile Tigers boss has experienced frustration in the transfer market with recent bids Bolton’s Kevin Davies rejected. Brown has signed Spurs’ classy but injury-plagued defender Anthony Gardner, Hungary winger Peter Halmosi and George Boateng from Middlesbrough.

But Hull’s biggest concern will be the scorching pre-season form of last year’s Manchester United loan star Frazier Campbell. Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that Campbell is on the verge of a Red Devils breakthrough and that will probably scupper any hopes the Tigers had of re-signing him on loan again.

Without Campbell Hull would not have reached the Premiership and his absence from the Premiership side means it will be an uphill struggle to avoid the wooden spoon.

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The dust has barely settled on Spain’s superb Euro 2008 win but it’s back to the meat and drink of the Premier League for us British punters and oh what a feast totesport have in store for us.

Their “Relegation 2008/9″ market unsurprisingly sees Hull and Stoke City chalked up at a respective 1/3 and 2/5 for the dreaded trapdoor.

Obvious choices, but only the lumpiest bettors would want to get involved at those odds and if you scrutinise the list it is possible to eke out some tastier prices.

Blackburn experienced a remarkable time last season finishing 7th under outstanding manager Mark Hughes. But the Lancashire side’s Messiah has since jumped ship to Manchester City to be replaced by a man with no Premier management experience.

Paul Ince deserves great respect for the work he has done at Swindon, Macclesfield and MK Dons, however, the gap between those sides and the Premiership is cavernous.

There also exists the real possibility that Ince will be losing key players David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz who seem to be subject to daily transfer speculation.

If either were to depart to pastures new totesport’s 12/1 for Blackburn to be relegated is a huge price.

Last season’s strugglers Bolton Wanderers also look ripe for the taking at 10/3.

Gary Megson’s side found goals an issue following the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea and it is doubtful they will unearth an adequate replacement before the start of the season.

Just one point spared them last term, and that was with Anelka on board for two-thirds of the campaign. It could be a grim old time in Lancashire this season.

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Looking at the latest odds you´d think Manchester United only have to turn up at Wigan´s JJB Stadium on Sunday for Sir Alex Ferguson to claim his 10th Premier League title.

The Red Devils are long odds-on (1/6) with totesport to do just that but perhaps there is just a slight suspicion that too much is being read into the Steve Bruce factor.

Wigan manager Bruce of course played at Old Trafford for nine seasons, winning eight trophies in the process. It would seem that many sarcastically believe the former rugged defender is going to make that nine trophies by ordering his players to take their feet off the gas and turn the fixture into a title procession for his old club.

Rubbish. If there is one word that sums up Bruce´s career as a player and now a manager it is honesty and the big man will demand nothing less than 100% from his side - even if it incurs the wrath of the United faithful for years to come.

Bruce has even come out this week to say he is insulted by suggestions that Wigan will throw in the towel. And that is something that should alert punters to Chelsea´s title odds (7/2).

Let us not forget that if United lose at the JJB then a Chelsea draw with Bolton at Stamford Bridge would be good enough to earn Avram Grant´s men the Premiership title. Likewise, if United only draw and Chelsea beat Bolton.

With the form that Grant´s side are currently in it is very difficult to see them grabbing anything other than three points.

One of the key factors to making money from the bookies is to only bet when the odds look wrong. Yes, United are still the justified Premier League favourites but this title race is still wide open and Chelsea´s price is too big to ignore.